Gold washing and separating machine.



Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

2 sums-sum 1. Q Q 7 a E RANDOLPH GOLD WASHING AND SBPARATIH G MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1909. 968,883.

E. RANDOLPH. GOLD WASHING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HAYS. 1909. 968,883.

v Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

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m: NORRIS FEYERS co, wnsmumorv, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND RANDOLPH, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

GOLD WASHING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND RANDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Gold \Vashing and Separating Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in gold washing and separating machines and its object is to provide a machine for the ready separation of gold from dirt or sand containing the same, the invention being particularly valuable for the recovery of placer gold.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a suitable tank or receptacle divided into a number of compartments, two or more transverse to the length of the receptacle, the said compartments being arranged in pairs with the individual compartments of each pair communicating. Each pair of compartments has a deep compartment and a shallow compartment and in the deep compartment there is arranged an elevating mechanism discharging into the next adjacent shallow compartment of a pair in order.

Provision is made in the present invention for the utilization of the necessary water over and over again, this being especially valuable in localities where water is scarce.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the machine with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a section on the line AB of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line CD of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line E-F of Fig. 1, looking however in the direction the reverse of that of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a section on the line GH of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a semi-cylindrical receptacle 1 provided with a like shaped cover 2 so that the receptacle 1 with its cover 2 is practically a cylinder and the receptacle 1 is provided with ends 3-4 while the cover has like ends so that when the cover is in place the receptacle is practically a closed vessel except as hereinafter described.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3, 1909.

Serial No. 493,611.

At one side of the central longitudinal axis of the receptacle 1 the ends 3-4 carry respectively pins or journals 5 entering bearings 6 on suitable pedestals 7 which in turn are mounted on cross beams 8 connected by longitudinal beams 9 having the ends curved upwardly so tlfat the beams 8 and 9 may constitute a skid for the ready transportation of the machine from place to place. This is a valuable feature where portability is desirable but it does not preclude the mounting of the structure upon fixed supports of any suitable nature or securing the standards directly to the floor of a building, the skid then being omitted.

The standards 7 on the side remote from the bearings 6 carry brackets 10 in which normally engage studs or pins 11 projecting from the ends 3 and 4 of the receptacle 1 and so support the latter against accidental movement but at the same time permitting the ready tilting of the receptacle 1- about the studs 5 as an axis. Other studs or pins 12 are provided for limiting this movement of the receptacle 1 about the journals of the pins 5 as an axis by engagement with the corresponding sides of the pedestals or standards 7. The normal position of the receptacle 1 is with the upper edges in ahorizontal plane and when the receptacle is turned on the axis of the studs 5 until the pins 12 engage the standards 7, then the receptacle 1 is in such position as to readily discharge its contents by gravity.

The interior of the receptacle 1 is divided into a number of spaced compartments 13 by cross partitions 14 and the partitions 14 forming the side walls of one compartment are spaced from the partitions 14 forming the side walls of the next adjacent compartment so as to form an intermediate compartment 15 between each two compartments 13 except that at the head or receiving end of the machine the first compartment 13 is divided from the next compartment 13 by a compartment 15 and an additional adj acent compartment 16.

The compartments 13 conform to the shape of the receptacle 1, the outer walls of which constitute the bottom and side walls of the respective compartments 13. The compartments 15 however are provided with an elevated bottom wall or supplemental bottom wall 17 inclined transversely of the receptacle 1 and also inclined slightly toward the receiving end of the receptacle.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910. I

These supplemental bottoms 17 stop short of the side wall of the receptacle 1 at one end of a compartment 15 and at this point the corresponding partition 14 is provided with a through passage 18 leading into the next compartment 13 in the direction toward the discharge end of the machine. The compartment 16 however discharges into the compartment 13 at the receiving end of the machine through a passage 19 provided for the purpose.

The end walls 3 and 4 of the receptacle 1 and also the end walls of the cover, and likewise all the partitions 14 are formed with a suitable recess for the reception of a hollow shaft 20. The shaft 20 carries a series of spaced scoop drums 21, there being such a drum for each compartment 13. Each drum consists of two side members 22 joined by spiral webs 23 between which are formed spiral conduits 24 open at the outer end and at the inner end discharging into the interior of the hollow shaft 20 through suitable passages 25. The shaft 20 is ren dered discontinuous so far as the interior is concerned by cross partitions or heads 26 at that end of a drum 21 toward the receiving end of the machine. At points coincident with each compartment 15 the shaft 20 is pierced by diametrically disposed passages 27, or a greater or lesser number of passages may be used. The shaft at the oint coincident with the compartment 16 1s provided with a series of perforations 28.

The shaft 20 extends through certain suitable journal bearings 29 on the pedestals 7 at each end of the machine and beyond the pedestal 7 at the receiving end of the machine the shaft 20 may be made solid and receive a pulley 30 for the application of power. It will be understood that this pulley is simply typical of any means of applying power to drive the shaft 20. At the end of the shaft remote from that receiving the pulley 30 the shaft is open so that material entering the shaft adjacent to this end finds free escape through the open end of the shaft.

The discharge end of the shaft 20 enters a tank 31 which may be carried on an extended portion of the skid, when the latter is used, and this tank is provided at the upper end with sustaining pins or points 32 receiving a pervious sack 33 preferably of a cloth through which water may readily pass but which will retain solid particles.

The receptacle 1 on the side adjacent to the compartment 13 at the receiving end of the machine carries a hopper 34 opening at the lower end into the said compartment 13.

There is also provided a pipe 35 connected.

at one end to the hopper 34 and communicating therewith through an extended side opening 36. This opening is protected by an overhang deflector 37 on the inside of the hopper 34. The pipe 35 extends to the discharge end of the receptacle 1 and is con nected removably to a tee coupling 38 which in turn is connected to an elbow 39 entering the tank 31.

To use the machine the tank 31 and the first compartment 13 are filled with water and the material to be washed is introduced into the hopper 31 and passes into the first compartment 13. Power being applied by the pulley 30 or otherwise to the shaft 20 the whole series of drums 21 is rotated in a direction to cause the mouths of the passages 24 to enter the material at the bottom of the first compartment 13 and elevate such material which will gravitate through the spiral passage through the center of the drum and finally escape into the shaft 20. A certain amount of the water so elevated will pass through the perforations 28 and thus into the compartment 16 and find its way back into the first compartment 13 through the passageway 19. The remained of the water and of the solid material scooped up will pass into the first compartment 15 and flow down the supplemental bottom 17 and finally pass through the passageway 18 into the second compartment 13 from whence it is scooped up by the drum 21 in such compartment and then passes to the shaft 20 and through the opening 27 into the next compartment 15 in order finding its way into the subsequent compartment 13 to be again scooped up and passed onto the next compartment in order in the manner described. For small machines about four drums 21 will be found ample but for large machines this number may be increased materially.

If there be any gold in the material being treated it will gravitate toward the bottoms of the compartments 13 while the lighter material is thoroughly agitated by the rotation of the drums 21 and this lighter material together with a certain amount of the water is removed from the compartment and caused to travel toward the next compartment and so on through the machine. By the time the material has reached the last compartment and has been scooped up there from and passes through the discharge end,

of the shaft 20 into the tank 31 the precious metal has been entirely extracted from the material and only water and tailings find their way into the tank 31. The tailings fall into the sack 33 and are thereby retained while the water will pass through the pervious walls of the sack into the tank exterior to the sack and when the level of the water has reached the proper height the water will flow through the neck 39 and into the pipe 35 and finally find its way into the hopper 34: discharging thereinto under the overhang 37. WVhen the sack 33 becomes full of ta'ilings it may be removed and a fresh sack substituted. By this machine the same water may be used again and again, being sutliciently cleansed by passing through the sack 33.

Should the device he used in localities where water is plentiful then the tank 31 may be removed by uncoupling the neck 39 from the tee 38 and the open end of the latter may be suitably plugged and then water may be introduced through the tee or the tee may be removed and the water he introduced directly into the pipe 35 as may be necessary while the water passing through the discharge end of the shaft 20 together with the tailings carried thereby may be allowed to go to waste. also be used for recovering gold from ore after leaving the stamp mills thus avoiding the use of poisonous materials and mercury and amalgam plates and thus very materially saving labor.

hat is claimed is 1. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle divided into a plurality of main compartments and other compartments intermediate of the main compartments and each communicating with the next main compartment in order, a hollow shaft traversing all the compartments and provided with discharge openings at each intermediate compartment, and scooping drums in each main compartment receiving at their peripheries and mounted on and communicating at their central portions with those portions of the hollow shaft where traversing the main compartments in which the drums are located.

2. In a machine of the class described, a suitable receptacle divided into a plurality of main compartments, and other compartments intermediate of the main compartments, each intermediate compartment communicating with a respective main compartment, a hollow shaft divided into sections extending from one main compartment to the next main compartment above an intermediate compartment and there traversed by suitable openings, and drums mounted on the shaft in the main compartments, said drums being provided with spiral passages The machine may opening at the periphery of the drums and delivering into the respective sections of the hollow shaft at the axis of the drums.

3. In a machine of the class described, a suitable receptacle provided with spaced transverse partitions dividing the receptacles into a series of main compartments and intermediate compartments between the main compartments, the said intermediate compartments being provided with supplemental bottoms and discharging into the next succeeding main compartments, a 1'0- tatable drum in each main compartment having spiral passages leading from the periphery of the drum to the axis thereof, a hollow shaft connecting the several drums and divided into sections each communicating with a respective drum at the axis of the latter and provided with passages discharging into the intermediate compartments of the next succeeding main compartment, and means for the introduction of material into one of the main compartments at one end of the machine.

4. In a machine of the class described, a suitable receptacle provided with a series of transverse compartments, scooping drums one for each compartment, said drums hav- 7 ing mouths at their peripheries and discharging at the axis of the drums, supplemental compartments between the main compartments in the receptacle and each communicating With the next main compartment in order and receiving the discharge from the preceding scooping drum, and a supplemental compartment on the discharge side of the first of the main compartments in order, said last named supplemental compartment receiving the portion of the discharge from the scooping drum in the said first compartment and provided with means for returning such material to the said first compartment,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND RANDOLPH. Witnesses:

CURTIS H. Fox, H. M. GRAND. 

